Change Registered Agent in Indiana

Read our guide about what changing an Indiana Registered Agent entails and see why you should use our experts to do it for you.

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There are a number of reasons you might need to change your Indiana LLC’s registered agent. Maybe your designated registered agent moved out of state, left the company, or no longer wants the responsibility. Maybe you had assigned the job to yourself, and you no longer want your address on public record. Maybe (hopefully) your business has expanded so much that you no longer have time to handle the registered agent responsibilities.

Whatever your reason may be, changing a registered agent in Indiana might seem like a daunting task, with a mountain of paperwork and legal proceedings involved. However it’s actually quite simple, and this guide will help make the process quick and painless.

What the State of Indiana Says about changing a Registered Agent

The state of Indiana has certain requirements for changing your LLC’s registered agent. Your request must be accompanied by a Statement of Change of Registered Agent form, which you can file by mail, in person, or online. Find this document, along with a link to online filing on the Secretary of State’s Business Forms page.

You’ll see references to “commercial” and “noncommercial” registered agents. To avoid confusion, just remember that a commercial agent is a person or entity that has registered with the state of Indiana, so their address and other info will be on record. A noncommercial agent hasn’t registered with the state, so you will need to supply their contact info. If you’re not sure which type your agent is, just check with them!

The Indiana State Code, Sec. IC 23-0.5-4-6 contains some additional information on registered agent changes.

Who can be a Indiana Registered Agent

You can’t pick just anyone to be a registered agent for your LLC. The state of Indiana puts certain restrictions on who can serve as one. If you’re choosing or changing your registered agent, keep these requirements in mind. The registered agent in Indiana must:

  • Be an individual Indiana resident or a business entity located in Indiana
  • Have an Indiana street address (P.O. boxes are not allowed)

* If your registered agent is a foreign business entity, it must be authorized to transact business in Indiana

How to Change Your Indiana Registered Agent

In order to change your registered agent in Indiana, go to the Secretary of State’s Business Forms page and scroll down to find “Registered Agent or Address Change.” There, you’ll find all the info you need in one place: links to download a paper form or submit it online. Either method will require you to input the following:

  • Your LLC name (must be identical to the name on record with the Secretary of State)
  • The name of your current registered agent
  • The name of your new registered agent
  • The address and email of your new registered agent (only if you’re using a non-commercial one)
  • A confirmation from the new registered agent
  • Your signature

You’re probably expecting a fee, but Indiana actually lets you change your registered agent for free! Isn’t that nice?

Filing online is the fastest way to go about it. Go to the INBiz website and create an account to get started.

But if you love the feeling of submitting a paper copy, go for it. You can mail your completed form to:

Secretary of State

Business Services Division

302 West Washington St., Rm. E018

Indianapolis, IN 46204

*You can also hand deliver your form to the same address

This form isn’t the only option for changing your agent, though. If the timing is right, you can also update your registered agent information when filing your biennial Business Entity Report. Or, you can file an amendment to your Articles of Organization, although this will cost you $30, so it’s probably not the best option.

If you’re too busy, or if you’d feel more comfortable letting someone else take the reins, you have the option of hiring a company or individual to file your paperwork for you. It’s a great way to save time and stress.

Submit your form? Pay your fee? Then you should see your new registered agent on file soon. Typical processing time for the Indiana Secretary of State is 3-5 business days.

Consider a Registered Agent Service

Think of your registered agent as a mediator between you and the state of Indiana, the person or business entity that handles some of your most important paperwork.

In case you thought the registered agent was just a formality, look at the documents they handle:

  • service of process notices
  • tax information
  • lawsuits
  • and other Secretary of State correspondence.

A lot of important stuff. Which is why a reliable registered agent is essential to every Indiana business owner.

By handling high-priority and sensitive documents on your behalf, your registered agent takes care of your communications with the state, so you can spend more time building your business.

Plus, if you operate an Indiana small business from out of state, a trustworthy registered agent is especially important, as the state requires a local contact for your LLC. Having this contact ensures your company will receive and respond to time-sensitive documents, so you won’t miss filings and get hit with penalties.

If you’re unsure where to find a good Indiana registered agent, consider using a registered agent service. These companies provide you with a reliable, professional registered agent so you can have peace of mind knowing you won’t ever miss a filing, tax deadline, or state correspondence.

Sure, you can jump online, search “registered agent services,” and get a ton of results. But the truth is that not all of these services are trustworthy. So, we’ve done some research for you. If you want to know you’re getting a top-quality registered agent, take a look at our comparison guide on the best registered agents. Many of these providers can also form an LLC for you if you’re needing a fresh start. ZenBusiness and Northwest are two very well known options.

Need to Resign your Indiana Registered Agent?

There are numerous reasons you might need to give up your Indiana registered agent role, but only one way to resign.

Registered agents play an important role in the life of an LLC, handling sensitive legal and tax documents, so it’s essential that agents follow proper resignation procedures. Otherwise, you could leave your company with unplanned fines or penalties, and you could be individually liable.

Fortunately, for Indiana LLCs it is easy.

Follow these steps and the hardest part of your resignation won’t be the process itself, it’ll be saying “so long” to your former business.

Notifying the Indiana LLC

It’s not mandatory to inform the company of your resignation before you file your official statement with the Secretary of State. You do, however, need to send a copy to your LLC immediately after you submit it (according to Indiana Code 23-1-24-3). Even so, to help ensure a smooth transition for everyone involved, it’s a good idea to speak with the company in advance. In doing so, you’re giving them plenty of time to plan their registered agent change and avoid the penalties for operating without one.

Submitting Your Resignation

The first thing you need to do is head over to the Indiana Secretary of State Business Forms page. Under the “Registered Agent of Address Change” section, you’ll find the “ Statement of Resignation of Registered Agent,” with options to download the form or file it online.

The form contains two parts, but they’re both pretty straightforward. The first is a cover page that asks for your personal contact information (business name/email, your name, address, phone number, and email) so the Secretary of State can return a copy to you.

The second is the actual statement of resignation. It requires the LLC name and address, your name, the date, and your signature.

And that’s it! And the best part is that there’s no fee, so you can put away your checkbook or credit card. When you’ve finished the cover page and resignation, mail them to:

Secretary of State

Business Services Division

302 West Washington St., Room E018

Indianapolis, IN 46204

If you’re local to Indianapolis, you can also drop it off in person. And don’t forget to mail or deliver a copy to your LLC as well, even if you already discussed your resignation with them.

Online filings are processed immediately and mailed ones take 3-5 business days. After your resignation is processed, you will remain the registered agent of your company for 31 days, unless they appoint a replacement sooner. Don’t go skipping town, because you could still receive documents and service of process for up to a month after you resign.

Handing off Your Responsibilities

When you put down your registered agent responsibilities, someone else has to pick them up, or your LLC will lose its good standing with the state. Help your LLC keep its momentum by carefully planning your transition.

This starts with finding a successor who’s ready to take over right away. Even a small gap in registered agent coverage can result in severe penalties. For example, say you resign and your LLC takes too long to appoint a replacement. If they spend more than 60 days without a valid registered agent, the LLC can be administratively dissolved by the state. This is why it’s important to assist them in establishing a transition plan.

Once you’ve nominated a replacement, confirm that they meet Indiana’s registered agent requirements. They must:

  • Be an individual or corporation residing in Indiana
  • Have a physical Indiana address (P.O. boxes aren’t allowed)
  • Have a mailing address in Indiana
  • Be present at their physical address during general business hours

An individual LLC member may serve as the company’s registered agent, but the LLC itself may not. Sometimes, though, it’s easiest to pass off those responsibilities to a professional.

We recommend using a registered agent service, which can take over registered agent duties, freeing up more time for the LLC’s managers to focus on running the business.

Finishing Up

You do a lot for your Indiana LLC. You’re essentially the shield that protects it from fines, the filter that catches important documents, the conductor that keeps it on track with compliance.

Because you play such an important role, it’s crucial that you follow the resignation procedures exactly — and potentially provide a replacement agent for the business. Otherwise, you might find yourself and your LLC in hot water.

Follow this guide and you’ll be totally fine. Soon, you’ll be on to your next project, whether that’s starting a new business in Indiana or something completely different.

If you need a fresh start and would like to form a brand new LLC, there are plenty of services that can take care of this for you. ZenBusiness and LegalZoom are two very popular options.

Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.

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Written by Team ZenBusiness

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